Still no updates in Lebanon shooting, home invasion: Evidence still needs to be processed

Friday

Jan 11, 2013 at 3:15 AMJan 11, 2013 at 4:27 PM

By Samantha Allensallen@fosters.com

LEBANON, Maine — Maine State Police say they have no public updates they are releasing at this time in an investigation of a so-called home invasion with shooting at a residence on 2nd Street Tuesday afternoon.

Lt. Brian McDonough said authorities continue to follow up on the case with the victim's vehicle recovered in Rochester and items of evidence still needing to be processed by the state crime lab.

“Those will be transported to the crime lab and will be processed and examined up there,” he said. “We are continuing to do as much follow-up on the victim as we can — interviewing co-workers, family, friends, associates and all that … We're making progress but other than that, I really can't speak to any specifics.”

On Tuesday at about 1:30 p.m., the gunshot victim, Richard Potorski, 41, of 11 2nd Street, stopped home on a lunch break and found an intruder in his home. Authorities say it is unclear what happened next but they believe the suspect shot Potorski in the shoulder and fled the scene in Potorski's black Ford Explorer. The vehicle was later abandoned behind the Big Lots retail store in Rochester on a loading dock. Potorski's wife returned home a short while later and placed an emergency call reporting her husband's injuries. He was flown to Maine Medical Center by LifeFlight helicopter in serious condition.

On Thursday, McDonough said officials were still waiting to interview the victim who was heavily sedated and while hospitalized, relaying thirdhand information to authorities through family members. McDonough said police will continue to conduct a “victimology” study, where they will try to determine why Potorski was targeted. They say it is still unknown if Potorski knew the shooter.

The Portland Press Herald reports according to the state Bureau of Identification, Potorski was sentenced in York County Superior Court in 2011 to 364 days in jail, with all but 60 days suspended, for a drug trafficking charge. Asked if this crime may have been drug-related, McDonough said officials “haven't ruled anything out” at this time.

“It's really too premature to say. My understanding is he does have a minor drug conviction,” he said, noting drug trafficking is a Class B misdemeanor charge, “…but we don't know. We need an opportunity to speak with him.”